1 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:04,920 Hey man, look at your neighbor and say I'm glad that you're 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:09,720 sitting by me. Hey man, hopefully you could say 3 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,280 that with some honesty today. Hey man, glad that you're 4 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,040 sitting by me. Amen to be in the House of the 5 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:17,720 Lord this morning. Amen. 6 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,640 In each of one of you that have come out on this chilly Sunday 7 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,080 morning, the sun is shining, Amen. 8 00:00:23,080 --> 00:00:26,320 And we counted a privilege to be in God's house, Amen, That we're 9 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,080 able to be here today. Hallelujah. 10 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:31,800 I'm going to be turning to the book of Nehemiah. 11 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:35,640 And I just got one verse so you don't have to worry about 12 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:39,480 standing for very long. All right, Just one verse in the 13 00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:41,800 book of Nehemiah. Amen. 14 00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:43,560 Good to see each one of you, Tracy. 15 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:45,920 It's so good to see your smiling face back there. 16 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,400 You, you, you got the color memo today. 17 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,640 And so we're just, yes, that's right, that's right. 18 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,840 So good to see you. So different ones again. 19 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,240 I could be like Sister McGee, Amen. 20 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:02,240 Glennon and Ray, of course, as well, hollered out at them, 21 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:06,680 making sure they were OK, Amen. And such, they are who they are. 22 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,960 You know, just sometimes life happens and you just can't get 23 00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:12,360 here, Amen. And so we love and appreciate 24 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:13,840 them, each one of you. Amen. 25 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:18,800 In God's house, Nehemiah chapter #11 one verse. 26 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,440 All right, Anybody remember the story of Nehemiah? 27 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:28,200 Nehemiah goes back to a broken down Jerusalem walls or just in 28 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:32,720 ruins gates or out of kilter. People have been scattered and 29 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,280 dispersed because of they've been taken away to captivity. 30 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,320 And he comes back and there's a lot of reconstruction and 31 00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:42,560 building that's taking place. And then they're trying to get 32 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,480 the city repopulated, so to speak. 33 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:48,480 And there are some other things. And so among this repopulation 34 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:56,560 is verse #17 the Bible says in Matanaya, the son of Micah, the 35 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:03,360 son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the 36 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:09,440 Thanksgiving and prayer. In Bakbukyai, the second among 37 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:17,560 his brethren, Abda, the son of Shamua, the son of Gala, the son 38 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,000 of Jeduthah. Yeah, everybody likes names like 39 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:22,920 that. Amen. 40 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:28,320 But particularly I want to focus on the first name, Matt Tenaya. 41 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,400 The Bible says, and it gives kind of his ancestry was the 42 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:35,320 principle to begin the Thanksgiving and prayer. 43 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,840 And for a little while this morning, I want to minister 44 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,640 this. When Thanksgiving starts with 45 00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:45,880 you, when Thanksgiving starts with you, Amen. 46 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,400 Can we pray one more time? Amen. 47 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,080 Invite God into this aspect of this service. 48 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,320 Father, we love you, God, we're so appreciative today. 49 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,280 God, it's your Lord that have made us and formed us and 50 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:00,600 created us. And Lord, we enter your 51 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,000 sanctuary with a heart full of gratitude and Thanksgiving as a 52 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,040 result of that, God, so many different measures and other 53 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,280 things, Lord, that we can return thanks for. 54 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,080 I pray, O God, that you ever to bless us in this place. 55 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:16,080 And we want to in turn, Lord, to bless you, Lord Jesus, with lips 56 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,240 of praise, God, the fruit of our lips. 57 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:19,640 God. The Bible says that it would be 58 00:03:19,640 --> 00:03:22,800 acceptable in your sight. God will not fail to thank you, 59 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,000 Lord, for what you accomplished. Lord, in this place today, in 60 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,120 the lovely name of Jesus Christ that I pray, Amen and Amen, 61 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,560 everybody say Amen. You may be seated today in Jesus 62 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:40,400 name when Thanksgiving starts with you concerning the concept 63 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,760 of Thanksgiving or giving thanks. 64 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,080 Giving thanks or Thanksgiving was not just an activity in the 65 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:51,040 city of Jerusalem. That activity or that giving of 66 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:57,600 thanks was central to Jerusalems very identity and her purpose. 67 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:03,000 God chose Jerusalem as the spiritual center of Israel. 68 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,400 He told the nation of Israel. He said that city will be the 69 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,440 place that I put my name. That's where that's the place 70 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,400 that I'll identify with me. As a matter of fact, when we 71 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:16,320 read like throughout the book of Samuel and we read the story of 72 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:20,120 when God's ark of the covenant had been gone for so long, and 73 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,320 that David goes and he gets that ark of the covenant, which was 74 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:28,400 revered as the very spirit and presence of God and bring back 75 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,600 to Jerusalem. We understand all of the pomp 76 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,160 and the pageantry, if you will, that took place in David 77 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:37,000 bringing that to the city of Jerusalem. 78 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:41,760 We understand him going 6 paces and then stopping and the 79 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:47,040 offerings and the sacrifice and the dancing and the shouting, if 80 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,520 I will, the Thanksgiving that he was offering unto God as he was 81 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,440 returning that ark to the city of Jerusalem. 82 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,640 And it's not just that, but David established that that city 83 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,440 that was also known as the city of David, Jerusalem. 84 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:07,160 He established that city as a hub of worship, as a hub of 85 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,760 Thanksgiving. His actions to do this were very 86 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:15,720 intentional, demonstrating that the city where God's presence 87 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:20,600 resides must also be one where his people continually give him 88 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:25,360 glory and give him thanks. That God, even in Scripture, 89 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:31,000 inhabits the praises of Israel, which was his people. 90 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,520 He inhabits the Thanksgiving, if you will, of his people. 91 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:39,880 And so David, in his time of being king, organized quite a 92 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:44,600 robust system of worship to ensure that Thanksgiving would 93 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,520 be given to God from the city of Jerusalem. 94 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,160 That Thanksgiving more than anything, wouldn't just be 95 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:55,800 something sporadic or something occasional, but that 96 00:05:55,840 --> 00:05:59,160 Thanksgiving would ring from the streets and the temple of 97 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:03,520 Jerusalem continuously. It would happen day in and day 98 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:05,400 out. The Bible tells us of these 99 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:08,320 things, and the record can really be found in the book of 100 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:12,960 Chronicles where David is appointing choir members and 101 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:17,120 he's appointing musicians and he's appointing worshippers. 102 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:21,160 The Bible describes there were 24 different courses or sections 103 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,960 and groups of people that would serve at different time in these 104 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:29,520 capacities of giving Thanksgiving to the the Lord. 105 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:33,160 And so David make sure that was in place because Thanksgiving 106 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,320 was going to be heard from the city of Jerusalem and God's 107 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:40,080 people were going to enter into that city and into that temple 108 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:43,880 with hearts full of gratitude. As a matter of fact, in First 109 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,760 Chronicles 16 four, we see that David appointed some Levites. 110 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:53,480 The Bible says to invoke and to thank and to praise the Lord the 111 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,840 God of Israel. In a sense, it's almost as 112 00:06:56,840 --> 00:07:01,360 though David was intuitionalizing Thanksgiving as 113 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:06,040 a daily rhyme of the city of Jerusalem's life, making it, 114 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:10,280 making worship, making praise, not just something that was a 115 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:14,920 personal act, but a communal act that whenever the people came 116 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:16,960 together, they, they thank God together. 117 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,640 Aren't you glad that we have opportunities through the week 118 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:21,920 that we can come together? You might have, thank God, 119 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,680 Brother Mason, on Monday, you know, on your way to work. 120 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,160 And Brother Fred, you might have did it on Tuesday as you were 121 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,240 saying out something on some piece of body work, but isn't it 122 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:34,000 good to come in on Wednesday and Sunday and morning and night, 123 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,640 and in a communal effort we surrender our praise and our 124 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,480 Thanksgiving and our adoration back to the king of glory? 125 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:45,680 David was initializing that. So it would be a citywide 126 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,960 endeavor for God's people. For that matter, it's something 127 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,720 that seems to be passed on even through his legacy to his son 128 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,800 Solomon. Solomon succeeds David and he 129 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,760 even completes the building of that grand temple, the temple of 130 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,360 Solomon. And Thanksgiving had reached a 131 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:06,000 crescendo, if you will, in the era of Solomon. 132 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:11,160 The Bible says at the dedication of that temple, the entire 133 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:15,280 nation of Israel has come together with bated breath, 134 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,960 waiting for the opening, if you will, of this grand place where 135 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,760 they can worship. And the Bible says there at the 136 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:26,280 dedication they offered offerings and sacrifices, and 137 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:30,440 they praise God, and Solomon even rendered a prayer into God. 138 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:34,679 And the Bible says that that worship experience was so 139 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:39,240 powerful that the cloud of the presence of the Lord came down 140 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:43,480 in that newly built sanctuary in so much that the priest could 141 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:49,360 not even stand Amen to minister. And God signified his presence 142 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,320 where the people had been worshipping. 143 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,600 There's something about that moment, I think, that highlights 144 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,440 some of the meaning and some of the connectiveness of 145 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,520 Thanksgiving. That it was more than just about 146 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,920 expressing gratitude. It was more about having words 147 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:07,880 of things and praise upon the lips. 148 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:11,640 But Thanksgiving is also connected a man to be in a 149 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:15,320 pathway to experiencing the tangible presence of God. 150 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:19,200 That when we interact in that, when we involve ourself in that, 151 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:23,000 we, if you will, are cracking open the heavens for something 152 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:27,120 to come down and beander and minister among us. 153 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:29,520 Amen. It was through Thanksgiving that 154 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:34,360 the city of Jerusalem was more than just a physical city. 155 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:40,000 It was transformed into a sacred space where heaven and earth 156 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:44,760 met, where heaven and earth came together and kissed each other. 157 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:49,640 As a matter of fact, during the time then of exile that Nehemiah 158 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:53,360 is coming on the heels of, we understand that that 159 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:58,520 characteristic of Jerusalem to a degree was lost as they spent 160 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:02,560 their days in Babylon. When the temple was destroyed, 161 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:07,120 the city walls torn down, the people carried away into 162 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:12,320 Babylon, even the prophets say they lost a sound of their 163 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:14,840 worship. It's seized in the city of 164 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,280 Jerusalem. The Bible says in Jeremiah 165 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:21,480 Chapter 7 and verse 14, Jeremiah is a prophet during these times, 166 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,240 and he gives, if you will, the condition of Jerusalem, of what 167 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,000 will happen and what did happen. He says then will I cause to 168 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,240 seize from the cities of Judah and from the streets of 169 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:38,680 Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice 170 00:10:38,680 --> 00:10:42,640 of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride for the land that 171 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:44,800 shall be desolate in another place. 172 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:49,840 Jeremiah said that the sound of the millstones were grind to an 173 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:53,440 halt, even the light of the candle would fail. 174 00:10:53,560 --> 00:10:56,440 He's saying that there will be a day that Jerusalem all of that 175 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,120 worship, that praise, that Thanksgiving, that gratitude. 176 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,920 He said it's going to it's going to fade away, it's going to 177 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:05,160 fail, it's going to stop. She's not going to be known that 178 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,160 for what she was known for during that time. 179 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,800 And so now you have all these exiles, Amen. 180 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,760 Without that worship, not surrendering it as easy as they 181 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:19,760 did when they were in Jerusalem, they're living in foreign lands. 182 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:23,040 They're they're struggling to maintain their identity. 183 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:27,480 Their grief is so much so poignantly expressed in the book 184 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:33,000 of Psalms when they said, how shall we sing the Lord's song in 185 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,560 this strange land. They're they're saying it's 186 00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:39,200 difficult for us to have gratitude about where we are 187 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:43,920 right now, to sing praises when we're people that are in exile 188 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,800 and it just doesn't happen as was naturally here, as it 189 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:53,120 happened at Jerusalem. So exile brought with it a 190 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:57,400 certain measure of silence, A painful reality really came into 191 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,840 the picture that worship and Thanksgiving. 192 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:06,520 Without those two things, Jerusalem in many regards was 193 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:12,080 just another city. Without the worship, without the 194 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,920 Thanksgiving, without the gratitude, without the praise, 195 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:19,640 Jerusalem in many regards was just another city. 196 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:24,880 Because it's significance didn't just rest upon all of the 197 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:29,600 physical structures of the city. Good for a temple and good for 198 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:33,200 an altar and good for walls. But it it it's role wasn't just 199 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:38,320 totally tied to those things alone, but it was tied to be in 200 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:43,400 the place where God's people gather together and they glorify 201 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:47,520 their creator and their maker. Thanksgiving was was not an 202 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:52,960 optional feature at Jerusalem. It was a part of her identity. 203 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:57,680 It's what defined the city of God's chosen to dwell in place 204 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:02,800 as being gods. So as the Exiles begin to 205 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:07,240 trinkle back from their 70 years of being separated from 206 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:10,680 Jerusalem, they come back to Jerusalem and they're they're 207 00:13:10,680 --> 00:13:15,160 coming under leaders like Zerubbabel and and like Nehemiah 208 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:18,720 and Ezra. A lot of the initial focus when 209 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:22,880 they come back to Jerusalem is let's build the altar or let's 210 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:26,760 build the temple, or let's build these walls or let's get the 211 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:28,840 gates hanging back up on the hinges. 212 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:33,960 All of these physical aspects, all these physical aspects and 213 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:37,560 structures that were observable things that had been in 214 00:13:37,560 --> 00:13:41,640 Jerusalem before. And so they began to restore all 215 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:45,240 these things. But in restoring the physical 216 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:49,120 structures, Nehemiah begins to take a pulse that there's still 217 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:50,880 something just not quite right yet. 218 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:55,360 I know we got the temple and I know we got the walls and we set 219 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:59,120 the last gate, but there's still something just is missing a 220 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:01,960 little bit here. We, we, we need to repopulate 221 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:04,120 the city. We, we need to get some people 222 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:06,720 back in Jerusalem. And, and not only do we need to 223 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:10,520 get some people back into Jerusalem, but in order for 224 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:14,640 Jerusalem to truly become Jerusalem again, we need some 225 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:17,800 people to connect with Jerusalem's divine purpose. 226 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:21,920 And that's being the hub, that's being the place we're God is 227 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:23,880 glorified and Thanksgiving and praying. 228 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:27,040 He's in other words, he said it doesn't mean no good to have the 229 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:30,960 structure, but Jerusalem to be silent. 230 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:35,200 What good is our temple if there's no Thanksgiving? 231 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,800 What good is this edifice that we are built if there's no 232 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,200 praise? What good are walls of 233 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:44,960 protection if we don't have men and women and husbands and wives 234 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:47,360 entering into this place and written? 235 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:51,040 What says? For that matter, what good is it 236 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:57,400 for people to occupy this space? And that's the limit of it. 237 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:02,560 They just come and occupy, he says. 238 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:06,040 Just having people there doesn't make Jerusalem, Jerusalem. 239 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,960 Just making sure she's met her population capacity doesn't make 240 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,480 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, He says. What makes Jerusalem, Jerusalem 241 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:17,360 is when they come and they say, God, thank you for your 242 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,560 blessings. God thank you for the harvest. 243 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,560 God, thank you for being a miracle worker. 244 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,360 God, thank you for being a creator God. 245 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:36,560 It's when they glorify that makes Jerusalem Jerusalem. 246 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,520 Bishop preached it years ago from the prophet Isaiah chapter 247 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:45,960 6, God speaking through Isaiah and he says that you make 248 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:51,760 mention of the Lord, keep not silence and give him no rest 249 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:58,360 until he establish, until he make Jerusalem a praise or a 250 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:04,040 Thanksgiving in the earth. Isaiah saying Jerusalem's going 251 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,480 to be known for the Thanksgiving, but that requires 252 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:11,920 the people, the inhabitants, those that that frequent that 253 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:17,320 place to not keep silent, not keep silent, not be bashful. 254 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:21,200 Hey, man, folks, He said that they would open their lips and 255 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:27,240 establish her to her significance, a place of praise, 256 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,520 a place of worship. And so that was going to require 257 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:36,280 some effort. 70 years removed. It's going to be some type of 258 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:38,320 reconnection that's going to need it. 259 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,880 Because I've learned in my life experience that many times 260 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:47,800 Thanksgiving is not automatic, especially after seasons of 261 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:53,320 hardship, especially after seasons of loss. 262 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:59,280 The returnees had to rebuild not just the walls and the 263 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:02,760 infrastructure. They needed to rebuild their 264 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:07,680 spiritual foundation. They needed to get in contact 265 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:13,400 again with a rekindling of the spirit of worship that once made 266 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:18,359 Jerusalem unique. Appraise in all the earth. 267 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:24,319 Because without Thanksgiving, Jerusalem would not fulfill her 268 00:17:24,319 --> 00:17:30,280 God ordained complete purpose. She would remain to a degree 269 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:34,520 incomplete. Then enters the plan. 270 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:39,440 Let's repopulate the city. But we just can't have people. 271 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:45,040 We need some leaders. We can't just have people. 272 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:51,680 We need someone that's going to spearhead the efforts of taking 273 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:57,440 us back to a day. And the Bible says among those 274 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:03,160 that were repopulated in the city was a man by the name of 275 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:08,960 Matanaya, whose name means gift of Yahweh became the Bible says 276 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:13,080 from the lineage of Asaph. Which is interesting because 277 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:15,840 ASAP in the book of Psalms, in the book of Chronicles in other 278 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:21,480 places, ASAP is the family who is deeply rooted in the ministry 279 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:24,760 of worship. We read of some Psalms that are 280 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,240 in the Psalms that we call the Psalms of David. 281 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:28,760 And all the Psalms were written by David. 282 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:33,360 Some of the Psalms there were written by Asaph as praises unto 283 00:18:33,360 --> 00:18:35,800 the Lord. He was one of the main three 284 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:40,080 that was leaders of worship and from his lineage would be this 285 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:43,480 man now in Nehemiah day of Metanaya. 286 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:48,440 Not only that, it was Asaf who in his day before David was also 287 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:50,720 a worshiper and a leader of worship before the Ark of the 288 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,880 Covenant as it came back to Jerusalem. 289 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:57,600 And so there's this long legacy that's been passed down from 290 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:01,800 generations to ASAP to his sons, to their sons, culminating the 291 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,640 miss moment for Matt Anaya, who's now been appointed the 292 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:09,480 time of Nehemiah. Go back to Jerusalem and let her 293 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:14,440 be what she once was. In Nehemiah 12 and 8, the Bible 294 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:17,640 says that Maniah is over the Thanksgiving. 295 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:22,120 In the chapter that we read this morning, it describes him as one 296 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:27,360 who began the Thanksgiving in prayer. 297 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:33,040 See, a regular part, regular part of the temple services was 298 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:38,600 the giving of thanks in prayer. There were praises and there 299 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:43,040 were prayers that accompanied what was regularly the morning 300 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,400 and the evening sacrifices. There were praises and prayers 301 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,080 put with that. And it was Matanaya's 302 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,880 responsibility for beginning. Everybody say beginning. 303 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:58,360 It was his responsibility to begin such Thanksgiving in 304 00:19:58,360 --> 00:20:01,240 prayer at the appropriate times. Do you understand what I'm 305 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,360 saying today? So it could become the 306 00:20:03,360 --> 00:20:05,400 appropriate time. Right. 307 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:13,760 Everybody's there, but it took someone, it took someone to kind 308 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:18,680 of be the leader among the Mass and say it's time to start 309 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,920 yielding some praise and Thanksgiving and prayer to God. 310 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:29,840 And based really upon that man's activity, we had other sons and 311 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:34,560 daughters, other tribes and people that would blend in with 312 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:41,800 Matanaya as he began to OfferUp Thanksgiving unto God in prayer. 313 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,560 He started that part of the service. 314 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:47,960 And it wasn't a small task, if I could say it like this, 315 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:49,680 particularly in the day of Nehemiah. 316 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:53,320 It was the first step in restoring the spiritual 317 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:57,240 heartbeat of Jerusalem. But somebody had to do it. 318 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:02,480 Someone say, man, so the physical city's been rebuilt. 319 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,880 But Matt and I, we have the physical, but Matt and I says we 320 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:07,560 got to bring some soul back to the city. 321 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,720 We got all the, we got all the structure, we got all the 322 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,120 dynamics. But I'm going to step forward. 323 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:16,320 I'm going to, I'm the principle of this matter. 324 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:19,800 I'm going to step forward and I'm going to be an igniter. 325 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:23,720 I'm going to take the initiative to rekindle worship and 326 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,720 Thanksgiving. Can I say it like this? 327 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,800 Even though the present environment may seem lifeless, 328 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,280 these people been separated for 70 years. 329 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,440 Their voices were were silent. Jeremiah said. 330 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:40,280 The song of mirth, the song of gladness, all that have died. 331 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,760 And so now they're going back to where that no longer seems to be 332 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,800 happening. And man, and I says, I know you 333 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:50,280 might not hear right now, but I'm going to let my frail voice 334 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,040 be the start of it. I know I don't hear none of it 335 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:56,040 right now, but I'm going to step forward and I'm going to say, 336 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:59,200 let's initiate this thing. Let's set this thing on fire. 337 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,560 Let me tell you, sometimes in the church house, you just got 338 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,120 to go at it alone sometimes. But I'll give you this 339 00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:09,760 confidence. If you'll step out, if you'll 340 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,960 start, if you'll be a leader in Thanksgiving, if you'll be a 341 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:16,720 leader in praise, if you'll be a leader in adoration, it won't be 342 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:18,960 long. It'll catch on, and somebody 343 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,680 else will be standing by you with their Thanksgiving. 344 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:28,440 But somebody's got to start it. Amen. 345 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:33,320 Somebody does, man. I just agree that Thanksgiving 346 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:39,080 was going to start with him. So there's this transformative 347 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:45,320 power because of his one man, might we say one man's obedience 348 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:48,240 with beginning. What are you doing, Pat Nya. 349 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:52,800 I'm. I'm setting an example for 350 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:58,120 others to follow, folks. Any great movement, any great 351 00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:02,760 revival of years gone by and we can talk about all the the peaks 352 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:05,080 and we can talk about the zoos and we can talk about Topeka, KS 353 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:06,640 and we can talk about all those different things. 354 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,440 But any grand move of that, you know what it starts with about 355 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:15,240 9:00 that says I'm just going to step out right here. 356 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:18,600 I'm just, I'm just going to, I'm just going to push something 357 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:20,480 right here. I'm going to I'm going to take a 358 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:23,280 step. I don't feel like my steps very 359 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,240 significant. I don't it doesn't seem like 360 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:29,240 it's very important, but the major and the domino effect that 361 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:37,200 happens when Matanaya begins. Listen, Thanksgiving and worship 362 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:41,360 in Jerusalem was so important. That's not just that Matanaya 363 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:49,720 was appointed, but verse 17 also tells us that Buchia the second, 364 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:54,120 and it names another name, Abda the son. 365 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:57,720 You know what they're saying? They're saying we, we got, we 366 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:01,200 got Matt and I here. He's the principal, the lead in 367 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:05,640 Thanksgiving. But if Matt and I can't serve in 368 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,360 that purpose, we got a second string. 369 00:24:11,120 --> 00:24:16,520 And if he can't do it, we got a third string that can get this 370 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:19,960 thing started. It's kind of like having a 371 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:24,800 relief pitcher or a second and third string quarterback, right? 372 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:28,000 What are you saying? I'm saying Jerusalem and the 373 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:34,840 church as well need some depth. It can't always just be waiting 374 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,280 on Matt and I. Sometimes Matt and I might be 375 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:41,680 there. We need a back Buki that can 376 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:43,400 say, hey, I'm second string here. 377 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:46,800 I'm willing to take the lead. I'm willing to start the 378 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:51,120 Thanksgiving. Can I tell you that I just be 379 00:24:51,120 --> 00:24:53,480 pastor here for a moment? Sometimes we come too 380 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:56,160 codependent upon such and such having to start. 381 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,600 Honey, what about you? What about you? 382 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:03,880 You, you can lift up your voice. You, you can. 383 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:05,680 There. God's done something for you. 384 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,040 There's some type of Thanksgiving that you can. 385 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:11,520 It doesn't always have to be. Matt and I, I know that might be 386 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:15,760 his role, but I guarantee you he would be displeased if someone 387 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,200 said, hold on. Matt and I, I want to start 388 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:19,040 today. Hold. 389 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:26,560 Come on. We used to play those games. 390 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,360 Not Gamesmith. You know, there's a kid growing 391 00:25:29,360 --> 00:25:31,560 up as I. You hear, you hear adults 392 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:33,760 talking about it. You know, someone's going to 393 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:38,560 say, well, so and so runs. Then I'll run right? 394 00:25:41,120 --> 00:25:43,200 Or as such and such goes to the altar. 395 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:51,840 OK, I'll go right. But what happens when those 396 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:52,880 things start with you? Yeah. 397 00:25:52,880 --> 00:26:02,600 Come on, someone say Amen. That now is just a position, the 398 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,280 place that underscores the simple fact that it's got to 399 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:08,400 start somewhere. It's got to start somewhere. 400 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:11,280 And it may gain momentum. It may, it may end up rolling 401 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:14,360 like Thunder and crescendo and like a roar of thankfulness, but 402 00:26:14,360 --> 00:26:17,360 it's got to start somewhere with someone. 403 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:20,840 And all of that is critical to Jerusalem being critical. 404 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:27,800 Critical, might I say, the church being the church exiles 405 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:32,640 returned to Jerusalem and this is a this is a significant 406 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:38,920 milestone for God's people. Their journey back to this place 407 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:43,120 in many regards is the fulfillment of a divine promise 408 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:45,920 that God had spoken over their lives. 409 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:51,920 Their return back to this place was a demonstration that God had 410 00:26:51,920 --> 00:27:00,560 been faithful to them. They're laboring, working 52 411 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,120 weeks. The walls were rebuilt, the 412 00:27:04,120 --> 00:27:09,920 gates are set, all the visible markers and reminders of the 413 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:14,640 physical activity. But Nehemiah touched the the 414 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:18,320 heartbeat of God, all of the building and all of the 415 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:21,400 organizing and all, just even the presence of the people. 416 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:26,640 God, you're desiring something more than just this hearts you 417 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:30,760 God you're wanting your their hearts to return to a place of 418 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:34,320 praise and Thanksgiving. Folks, that wasn't just for 419 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:38,160 Nehemiah's day and that wasn't just for Moses day and that 420 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:41,560 wasn't just for David's day. We hear Jesus speaking to the 421 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:45,520 woman at the well said that you know what the Father seek of 422 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,720 true worshippers to worship Him in spirit. 423 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,080 And even in the New Testament days he was looking for 424 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:55,320 Thanksgiving and praise. And if it was good for Moses day 425 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:59,240 and David's and Saul in Jesus's day, it's good for our day. 426 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:02,760 He's still seeking true worshippers to worship Him in 427 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:04,760 spirit and truth. It is still one of the 428 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:08,680 heartbeats of God. He wants to come down and dwell 429 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:12,400 in that place for God. You must understand having a 430 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:16,360 Jerusalem without Thanksgiving, what's borderline equal to 431 00:28:16,360 --> 00:28:23,480 having a thanks or a Jerusalem that is in ruins because really, 432 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:26,920 what's the difference? Yeah, she might have her 433 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:29,360 buildings and everything puts together, but there's no sound 434 00:28:29,360 --> 00:28:37,000 coming from her. Someone say Amen. 435 00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:42,880 So they returned there. It's not it's not a political 436 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:44,720 event. It's not just a cultural event. 437 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:52,080 It's a spiritual homecoming that that spirit with, with the 438 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:56,200 outpouring of gratitude. Yeah, pouring at Thanksgiving. 439 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:59,520 Were you to. I'm acknowledging the one who's 440 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:03,320 orchestrated our deliveries, who's brought us back to this 441 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:05,720 point again. Listen. 442 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:10,400 Well, if he'll just overcome me, I'll start being grateful and 443 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:12,760 have gratitude. You know, if he'll just, you 444 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:15,560 know, kind of explode out my mouth. 445 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:19,240 God. Listen, Minnie, I'm telling you, 446 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:21,920 it's given a lot of times isn't automatic. 447 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:27,040 It requires intention. It requires reflection. 448 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:35,560 It's a deliberate choice. Just get real for a moment, 449 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:37,760 right? I know today, you know, please 450 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:38,920 and thank you. And some of those things are 451 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:41,040 like long gone things. They broke books on ad podcasts 452 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:41,880 on blah blah blah. Why? 453 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:44,640 Because it just don't happen automatically. 454 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:48,040 People got to be deliberate. They got to make conscious 455 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:49,840 choices. They have to intentionally say, 456 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:53,520 oh, thank you so much for blah, blah, blah because it just 457 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:59,240 doesn't automatically. God is such a gentleman. 458 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:02,320 He doesn't make us really do. He's a gentleman. 459 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:06,640 He provides the choice. He gives you what he would 460 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:13,280 prefer, and then he leaves it up to the will of humanity to make 461 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:15,960 a choice. He's a gentleman. 462 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:19,160 Amen. He would love for Jerusalem to 463 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:23,320 ring again. They know he would, but they got 464 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:25,880 a choice. So if Thanksgiving is going to 465 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,160 happen, it's going to be happening because someone's 466 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:31,960 reflecting, someone's being intentional, someone's making a 467 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:33,320 choice. Hey, man. 468 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:36,520 And for that matter, whenever I begin to be thankful to God, 469 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:41,680 men, there's something about when I draw nigh to God, as 470 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:45,720 James said, he draws nigh to me. There is a relationship. 471 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:49,800 There's a restoration of connection with God when I start 472 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:52,960 doing those things. Exile has made me feel distant. 473 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:55,360 Exile has made me feel disconnected. 474 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:58,600 But when I begin to worship, worship begins to build a bridge 475 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:02,840 in that gap. If I fail to worship, I, I, I 476 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:06,760 have the possibility and the propensity to fall into 477 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:15,600 complacency, forgetting what God has done, forgetting the God who 478 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:18,360 delivered me. But as long as I remain 479 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:21,280 thankful, I'm keeping it in my forefront of my mind. 480 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:25,400 That's what God did. And it's all through Moses, all 481 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:27,040 the time reminding the children of Israel. 482 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:30,120 For forget not the Lord thy God who brought thee out of Egypt. 483 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:33,320 And then he would tell them something that God would like or 484 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:34,800 that he preferred. What are you doing? 485 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:37,880 I'm stirring up your mind for you to remember what God's done 486 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:41,800 for you, that just maybe you'll reciprocate to a certain degree 487 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:51,920 because God's been to God to me. Want to forget God? 488 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:54,000 Don't want to forget that He delivered. 489 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:58,040 I want to get prideful and think I made it here on my own or by 490 00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:00,240 myself. I don't want to be disconnected 491 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:03,920 from God and just enter the temple because it's the thing to 492 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:05,800 do with no sound ringing from her. 493 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:08,200 Do my, if you will, religious obligation. 494 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:17,640 Come and say Amen. It is God's real desire for 495 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:19,840 worship. It isn't rooted in his need for 496 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:24,280 affirmation. I really rooted in that. 497 00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:26,440 You got to prop God up because he's insecure. 498 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:31,440 It's all about his desire for relationship with you. 499 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:40,840 So if Thanksgiving doesn't happen automatically and it 500 00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:45,600 requires someone to initiate it, what I believe then, according 501 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:50,880 to Scripture, that like Matt Tanaya, that you and I are part 502 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:53,040 of this body that we call Christ, a part of the church. 503 00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:56,560 We have been called to be initiators. 504 00:32:57,080 --> 00:33:00,680 We've been called to be individuals who take the first 505 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:05,600 step to offer praise, hopefully even inspiring someone else to 506 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:07,080 do the same. Amen. 507 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:11,080 Can I tell you this morning, even not here in the church, but 508 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:13,480 we need someone that will be thankful in the home. 509 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:16,480 And we need somebody that will be thankful in the community. 510 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:19,400 And we need somebody that will be thankful in the church. 511 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:27,440 Someone say man, because if worship, if worship seems 512 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:30,120 silent, it might because Thanksgiving is distant from our 513 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:31,880 lips. We got to restore it to our 514 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:34,320 mouths. God's calling for somebody to 515 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:38,360 step forward today and the ripple effect of Thanksgiving 516 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:42,080 cannot be overstated. I've seen it too many times, 517 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:44,560 man. It just be as tight as a box 518 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:47,800 with cords around it in the depths of the ocean and someone 519 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:52,120 step out, someone lift a voice, someone raise a hand and the 520 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:56,440 atmosphere begins to change. The voice is begin to ring. 521 00:33:56,840 --> 00:33:59,240 The spirit of the Lord begins to come down. 522 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:03,280 Why someone said Thanksgiving is going to start with me today. 523 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:21,929 That someone say man, it's not it's 524 00:34:21,929 --> 00:34:26,650 not easy. The environment may not even be 525 00:34:26,650 --> 00:34:31,040 accommodating. Scripture says that we can even 526 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:36,120 get things in difficult circumstances. 527 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:42,000 And, you know, sometimes I'm in environments like anybody could 528 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:43,639 slap a glory Hallelujah up right now. 529 00:34:43,679 --> 00:34:51,520 I mean, it's like, like my feet are tapping without me even 530 00:34:51,520 --> 00:34:54,880 consciously knowing. It's just like like a little 531 00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:57,080 Bunny or a dog that's getting scratched in the right spot. 532 00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:05,520 Sometimes the trial of our Thanksgiving is whenever there's 533 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:13,040 difficult circumstances and like David having it in our lives 534 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:17,760 where it's not as sporadic or for special occasions, it 535 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:21,400 becomes a daily discipline that it's not just a response to a 536 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:24,000 blessing, it's because we know the blesser. 537 00:35:24,720 --> 00:35:29,320 It's it's the times that Paul reminds us to to give thanks and 538 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:31,320 everything and everything give thanks for this is the will of 539 00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:33,000 God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 540 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:35,360 He's not telling you to be thankful for the horrible time 541 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:37,880 that you're going through. He just saying being thankful 542 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:43,240 despite what you're going through, because though your 543 00:35:43,240 --> 00:35:49,640 circumstance may change, the God of all circumstances changes 544 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:52,040 not. He neither sleeps nor does he 545 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:58,560 slumber. God predicted what would happen 546 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:01,360 concerning Jerusalem. He did it do the same prophet 547 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:03,720 Jeremiah. Jeremiah said mirth and 548 00:36:03,720 --> 00:36:05,280 gladness. All these things will be taken 549 00:36:05,280 --> 00:36:07,080 away. The millstones will grind to a 550 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:08,160 halt. There will be no work. 551 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:11,200 The candle will fail at Jerusalem. 552 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:17,200 But he also predicted God did what would happen in verse #10 553 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:22,400 of Jeremiah 33. Thus saith the Lord again, 554 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:28,520 everyone say again, There shall be heard in this place, which he 555 00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:31,640 say, shall be desolate without man, without beast, even in the 556 00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:36,080 cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are 557 00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:39,760 desolate without man, without inhabitant, and without beast. 558 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:46,440 Verse 11 The voice of joy. He said again, There will be the 559 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:50,560 voice of joy, the voice of gladness, the voice of the 560 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:53,120 bridegroom and the voice of the bride, and the voice of them 561 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:57,400 that shall say Praise the Lord of host, for the Lord is good 562 00:36:57,400 --> 00:37:00,600 for his mercy endure forever of them that shall bring the 563 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:04,600 sacrifice of praise into the House of the Lord, for I will 564 00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:10,240 cause to return the captivity of the land as at the first saith 565 00:37:10,240 --> 00:37:11,800 the Lord. You know what he said, It's 566 00:37:11,800 --> 00:37:14,040 going to come a time, it's going to, it's going to leave. 567 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:16,480 It's going to grow silent, He said, but there's going to be a 568 00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:18,080 day it's going to get noisy again. 569 00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:22,400 He said it's going to there's going to be a day just as sure 570 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:24,600 as the mirth stop. He says it's going to happen 571 00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:28,080 again just as sure as the gladness just eat away. 572 00:37:28,080 --> 00:37:31,640 It's going to come back again. Ladies and gentlemen, how did it 573 00:37:31,640 --> 00:37:33,720 come back? Because Thanksgiving started 574 00:37:33,720 --> 00:37:39,200 with someone. You'll stand with me this 575 00:37:39,240 --> 00:37:44,720 morning. Oh, Matt and I steps forth. 576 00:37:46,040 --> 00:37:51,080 I'm going to begin this Thanksgiving and prayer and the 577 00:37:51,080 --> 00:37:57,040 heartbeat of Jerusalem starts palpitating again as worship 578 00:37:57,040 --> 00:38:01,560 goes forth. What are you saying? 579 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:07,720 I'm saying perhaps God is calling you to be the spark in 580 00:38:07,720 --> 00:38:12,000 your family. Perhaps God is calling you to be 581 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:16,320 the spark within your collective body of group, in your 582 00:38:16,320 --> 00:38:19,280 community, or within your church community. 583 00:38:20,720 --> 00:38:23,160 I'm seeing this this morning. Don't wait for the perfect 584 00:38:23,160 --> 00:38:26,720 moment. There's not always a perfect 585 00:38:26,720 --> 00:38:29,600 moment to be thankful. Don't wait for the perfect 586 00:38:29,600 --> 00:38:33,040 moment for for someone else to lead you. 587 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:36,640 Be the voice you, be the tongue you. 588 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:38,880 Be the one with the song of gratitude. 589 00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:42,160 Even when it's difficult, even when it's hard. 590 00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:44,720 Be the ignite or inspire somebody else. 591 00:38:44,920 --> 00:38:47,880 Don't wait for someone else. Be the someone else, Someone 592 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:52,760 else is waiting for Hallelujah. Invite God's presence down. 593 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:55,440 Amen. Invite Him down to fulfill His 594 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:58,480 purpose right in your family, your home, your community. 595 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:01,520 Let that sound of praise and thankfulness, let it just be 596 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:05,160 complete. Let it ring again in Jerusalem. 597 00:39:06,240 --> 00:39:08,840 We got to start it. Let me bow our heads today. 598 00:39:08,840 --> 00:39:11,640 We got to start it. We got to offer a prayer of 599 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:14,400 gratitude. We got to sing our song of 600 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:17,000 praise. We got to maybe it's sharing a 601 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:20,600 testimony of goodness. Whatever it is, we got to start 602 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:23,080 it because it could be your voice. 603 00:39:23,080 --> 00:39:26,960 That may be the first note for the Symphony of praise and 604 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:30,360 Thanksgiving to begin. That will totally change the 605 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:35,080 atmosphere around you. What are you saying then, 606 00:39:35,080 --> 00:39:37,760 pastor? I'm saying today, will you be 607 00:39:38,160 --> 00:39:44,000 the Matanaya of our generation? Will you be the matanaya of our 608 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:46,760 generation? Will you be the principal in 609 00:39:46,760 --> 00:39:50,600 beginning the Thanksgiving in prayer? 610 00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:52,960 We begin to talk to God right now. 611 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:55,800 Hallelujah. It's more than having a church 612 00:39:55,800 --> 00:39:58,400 building. It's more than having pews. 613 00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:02,280 It's more than having sheetrock or good Decor or landscaping 614 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:05,520 outside. It's more than a certain number 615 00:40:05,520 --> 00:40:08,200 of people showing up whenever it's service time. 616 00:40:08,440 --> 00:40:12,200 It's about whether or not those people are engaging in what 617 00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:15,720 makes the church, the church, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, being 618 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:20,600 thankful and having a heart of gratitude to God and connecting. 619 00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:26,440 In that relationship with him, by that, through that, for that, 620 00:40:26,440 --> 00:40:32,000 you hear me? There's a lot of edifice 621 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:37,880 scattered across the world today, but they're short on 622 00:40:37,880 --> 00:40:42,080 Thanksgiving. There's a lot of people feeling 623 00:40:42,080 --> 00:40:46,320 buildings today on this Sunday morning, but we lack 624 00:40:46,320 --> 00:40:50,080 Thanksgiving. Let mirth be heard again, 625 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:55,840 gladness hurt again, praise echo again, shouts happen again. 626 00:40:56,240 --> 00:41:00,720 Dancing as when the ark came to Jerusalem happened all over 627 00:41:00,840 --> 00:41:04,120 again. That was not some archaic thing 628 00:41:04,120 --> 00:41:07,920 that our grandparents did. No, that's something that the 629 00:41:07,920 --> 00:41:23,160 church does. Our remembrances of Thanksgiving 630 00:41:24,320 --> 00:41:28,440 should not be well when sister so and so God blessed and the 631 00:41:28,440 --> 00:41:31,040 Bobby pins came out of her hair and her long heroine as a 632 00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:34,760 helicopter above her head. Our remembrances of Thanksgiving 633 00:41:34,760 --> 00:41:37,600 should not be well. It's when you know elder brother 634 00:41:37,600 --> 00:41:41,480 so and so he did what we call digging taters and thankful to 635 00:41:41,480 --> 00:41:43,400 God. It should not be those things, 636 00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:45,040 Sister Sheila. It should be. 637 00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:51,480 There's a modern day matanaya that says I'll start it. 638 00:41:54,000 --> 00:42:01,160 I'll begin it because no one knows like I know how good God 639 00:42:01,160 --> 00:42:08,440 has been to me because no one can give him the thanks that you 640 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:14,960 can give. So I can give him the thanks 641 00:42:14,960 --> 00:42:19,360 that you need to give. Because that's peculiar and 642 00:42:19,360 --> 00:42:23,160 tailored to you and what's happened in your life and what 643 00:42:23,160 --> 00:42:26,760 you've experienced and the handy, the handiwork and the 644 00:42:26,760 --> 00:42:30,240 fingerprints of God that you have placed on your life. 645 00:42:33,560 --> 00:42:37,080 So I'm just urging us and challenging us today. 646 00:42:37,640 --> 00:42:42,800 Wonder what would happen if Thanksgiving started with you? 647 00:42:43,680 --> 00:42:46,680 This altar is open today, or right there where you're 648 00:42:46,680 --> 00:42:48,560 sitting. You might need to raise a hand 649 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:53,320 and begin just to yield some Thanksgiving, Some praise. 650 00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:57,320 It might look dynamically different across this place. 651 00:42:57,640 --> 00:43:00,560 For some, it may be a tear going down the face that's saying 652 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:03,200 thank you. For others, it may be both hands 653 00:43:03,200 --> 00:43:05,320 in the air. Others might have some type of 654 00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:07,000 words that's coming out their mouth. 655 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:09,920 It may look dynamically different across the house. 656 00:43:10,120 --> 00:43:13,320 But that's all right because no one knows your story. 657 00:43:13,320 --> 00:43:16,840 Like you know your story and what God has done for you, but 658 00:43:16,840 --> 00:43:19,800 you just undecided. I'm not waiting for her and I'm 659 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:22,760 not waiting for him. I know what God's done for me. 660 00:43:22,920 --> 00:43:25,720 I'll be a matinee. I'm my generation, when there's 661 00:43:25,720 --> 00:43:28,720 been silence, when it's eat away, I'm going to return the 662 00:43:28,720 --> 00:43:31,640 mirth and the gladness and the joy and the praise and the 663 00:43:31,640 --> 00:43:34,600 shouting. I'm going to become the soul of 664 00:43:34,600 --> 00:43:38,520 what Jerusalem is known to be, the heartbeat of worship. 665 00:43:42,480 --> 00:43:45,240 Brother Mason, let's worship him right now in song. 666 00:43:45,640 --> 00:43:48,280 Will someone start worshiping your family? 667 00:43:48,680 --> 00:43:51,280 Will someone be the spark in your community, within your 668 00:43:51,280 --> 00:43:56,760 church, the Imatinaya? Today, begin Thanksgiving in 669 00:43:56,880 --> 00:43:57,320 your prayer.